California State University, San Bernardino - Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration

The Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration at California State University, San Bernardino, offers a low cost, high quality education aimed at those with a love of learning, innovation, and purpose. The school has three MBA options for professionals at all stages of their career: Traditional, Professional, and Executive. One third of credits in the Traditional program are focused on an area or concentration of the student’s choosing, with options ranging from Cyber Security to Accounting to Global Supply Chain Management. Additionally, classes are offered in the evening and on weekends, including hybrid online components, to aid in flexibility.

As for what’s actually covered in classes, “a significant portion of the material and content covered [is] very relevant” and “directly impacts and challenges the way we critically think and make decisions in a professional/managerial setting.” As such, the MBA program “strives to ensure that students go outside of the classroom,” and “each student is encouraged to engage and participate through different program-run projects.” But while students are expected to put in the effort on their own, they are given guidance along the way. Plus, class sizes “are usually pretty small and even in the larger classes the professors usually know everybody's name by the end of the class.” On top of that, there “are a ton of opportunities” as the faculty “have various side projects/experience that they uniquely bring to the classroom for students to get a feel [for] or even participate in.”

As a leading institution in the area, the school “has a responsibility to provide a pipeline of professionals to the workforce [in order] to develop this region.” It accomplishes this mission through its “ability to connect with business leaders in the industry.” To that end, more than 65 percent of the school’s alumni remain in southern California, many of whom assist current students in finding internships, mentoring opportunities, and career advising sessions. Furthermore, the MBA office is “very helpful and … able to address most [academic] concerns,” and they “really make an effort to help you with any issue.” This support within the program “fosters [a] culture of building national and international brand recognition for the quality of education,” and “the time, resources, and energy the faculty and staff give to help get students to graduation is great.”

The students at CSUSB are “diverse by every category: age, ethnicity, work experience, career goals,” but they are all “helpful, friendly, and determined.” The “experienced and knowledgeable students” here “bring so much to the table.” As one puts it, “I have gained so much by speaking with my peers and understanding their career paths.” As for the school itself: “The campus is gorgeous” and has everything students need, including “food, school supplies, and a large library.” Still, this is “very much [a] commuter campus,” and “it is very easy to attend classes and leave right after.” Regardless of how much time you spend on campus, CSUSB “really tries its best to create a unique experience for its students,” and “when you walk through, … you can feel that there is a relaxed atmosphere where faculty and students are approachable.”